Housing Benefit paid upon a property you do not live at

It is possible for a person to receive Housing Benefit in respect of a home they do not live at, but only in very specific circumstances. You cannot get Council Tax Benefit for a property you no longer live at, whether you remain liable for the property or not.

Please note this section does not apply to people who are temporarily absent from their current home, it applies to people who have recently moved address.

Under what circumstances may I get Housing Benefit for an address I do not live at?

You may get Housing Benefit in respect of an address you do not live at for a number of different reasons:

  • You have moved address and there is an unavoidable overlap of liabilities;
  • You have moved address due to a fear of violence;
  • You are awaiting disabled adaptations to a new home;
  • You are awaiting a social fund payment before moving address;
  • You are waiting to leave hospital.

You have moved address and there is an unavoidable overlap of liabilities

In this circumstance you may be awarded Housing Benefit on two homes. To be eligible for Housing Benefit on two homes you must meet the following conditions:

  • The dual liability must have been unavoidable;
  • The dual liability must not exceed four weeks;
  • You must have moved into your new property.

The need for benefit on two homes most commonly arises when you are offered a more suitable tenancy at short notice which you are obliged to take without being able to serve your contractual notice period at your former address.

Please note that if you incur a dual liability but you choose not to move into your new property we will be unable to award Housing Benefit in respect of your new address until such time as you do move in.

It is possible for a person moving from a rented property to a non-rented dwelling to receive up to four weeks additional Housing Benefit in respect of their former address but only if they meet the same conditions as set out above. This situation most commonly arises when you have to move out to go in care, move in with relations, get sentenced to prison, or you purchase your own home.

You have moved address due to a fear of violence

You may be eligible for Housing Benefit for up to 52 weeks on two rented properties if you meet you meet the following conditions:

  • You have left and remain absent from your former home due to fear violence likely to be perpetrated either at your former home or by a former member of your family;
  • Your intention is to return home;
  • You retain a liability for your former home and the home that you have fled to;
  • And it is reasonable to meet the rent on both properties.

If you have no intention to return to your former address you will only qualify for Housing Benefit on two homes for a maximum of 4 weeks, as in the first example.

If you have moved home due to a fear of violence but you do not pay rent at the address you have moved to, you will be treated as being temporarily absent and you maybe entitled to Housing Benefit for up to 52 weeks. Please see our section Temporary Absence from Home.

If at any point during your absence you decide not to return home you must inform the Council immediately. The Housing Benefit you are in receipt of will stop at the end of the benefit week in which you decide not to return home, and we will not treat any benefit paid in respect of your former home as being overpaid.

Before deciding to award Housing Benefit for two homes in this circumstance, the Council will take reasonable steps to ensure that the fear of violence does exist. Although no violence has to actually occur the threat of violence must exist. We will also seek to clarify what the fear is and of whom you are in fear of.

Awaiting disabled adaptations to a new home

You maybe eligible to claim Housing Benefit for up to four weeks on the address you intend to move into if you awaiting the adaptation of your new address to meet the disability needs of a member of your family. If you rent both your former and new homes you may be eligible for up to 4 weeks Housing Benefit on both homes, or 4 weeks on your new home before moving in, should you be moving from non-rented to rented accommodation.

There are other scenarios whereby you maybe awarded Housing Benefit on a former or new address whilst not being resident there but these are less common and you will need to speak to the Benefits Section.

Awaiting a social fund payment before moving address

This only applies to persons who have applied for a social fund payment to help them move or set up their new home. It also only applies to persons aged 60 years or more, to persons with a child under 6 years, or to a family with a disabled person who qualifies for a disability premium.

If you fall within the qualifying criteria you maybe entitled to a maximum of 4 weeks Housing Benefit before you move in, but the benefit cannot be paid until you have actually moved in.

Persons waiting to leave hospital

You maybe entitled to a maximum of 4 weeks Housing Benefit before you move into your new address if you are waiting to leave hospital. This commonly occurs when someone takes on a new tenancy but their moving in is delayed for medical reasons. Again, benefit cannot be paid until you have actually moved in.

Claiming benefit prior to moving in

In all cases where you claim benefit prior to moving in it will be necessary to claim benefit either prior to moving in or in the first week of your new liability.

Please note that in all circumstances we cannot award Housing Benefit at a former property or a property that you intend to live at until you have actually moved into your new address.

How do you rate this information / service?

back to the top